Saturday, August 20, 2016

Keyboard maestro and P-Funk co-founder Bernie Worrell headed back home to the Mothership on June 24 after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 72.

Worrell’s imaginative keyboard work was an integral part of P-Funk’s unique sound. Through his wizardry on the keys, he infused a fantasy/sci-fi element into the legendary funk-rock-soul collective’s ever-expanding sonic palette.

And in addition to his tremendous contributions on keys, Worrell had a hand in the writing of many of P-Funk's best and most-recognized classics, including “Mothership Connection (Star Child),” “Flash Light,” “Cosmic Slop,” “P.Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up),” “Aqua Boogie,” “Red Hot Mama,” and “Do That Stuff.”

He was without a doubt one of P-Funk’s most invaluable architects. So in honor of the Wizard of Woo, I’ve made a list of a few of my favorite Bernie Worrell moments on wax. Here they go:

The Woo master serves up another stupidly funky Minimoog bass line on this monster booty-shaker. And in addition to the bass line, Worrell elevates the track to its maximum funkatude with his amazing keyboard work and a slow-burn synth solo.